Baby Carriers

[fonxey]

Looking for some recommendations and opinions. I haven't really tried any on and am a ftm so it's all new and weird and wonderful.

Anyway, me and the OH are quite petite in size and frame. He has arthritis and my back is easily bent out of shape.

I've decided I don't want a sling. I don't think they look that supportive, too fiddly and I just want to plug and play. And i want something of course my OH will feel comfy in too.

I've been looking at the ergobaby and tula. Many others I've seen look rather bulky or stiff whereas these seem quite low profile yet still look comfy. However haven't laid my eyes on a physical one yet.

I'm also looking for something long lasting. I might not feel like i want (or they might not want) to be carried into toddlerhood but I'd prefer that option.

And finally... Is it best to wait until after they are born to buy one (another point they must also be ok for newborns) or before? I'm going through a nesting thing i guess. I can't stop buying things or thinking what else i need to get and arrgh!

I'm guessing might as well wait until after they are born as for the first few weeks probably in no rush to be doing much. But the impulsive but everything part of me wants to be 100% prepared if that is even possible.

I am 20 weeks, so not even close.

A Sling thing looks quite good... Thanks! Though i guess expensive depending on how many i go through. However better than buying one and not liking it for myself or baby.

I'm feeling bitter

wearmybaby.co.uk/letchworth/

This maybe near you?

We had a caboo sling which we picked up at 'The Baby Show' before DD was born and felt v smug about being prepared. She always hated it and we found it uncomfortable and unsupportive sigh

Once she was here we tried the Baby Bjorn and it's a whole new world of comfort, support and ease of use. We got the 'one air' which has been great in the hot weather, suitable for new born and easy to put on alone so I'd definitely recommend.

It was £130 on Amazon
www.babybjorn.co.uk/baby-carriers/baby-carrier-one-air/

I wouldn't have been without our baby born carrier... my daughter lived in it for months. We were able to use it up until she was 18 months old. It was important that both me and my husband could put it on easily and felt comfortable wearing it.

Depending on what part of Cambridgeshire you are haverhill has a sling meet. Ergo and tula weren't for me as I have narrow shoulders. I used a stretchy wrap to begun with (cheap and easy to learn on you tube) and then a sleepy nico. Massively underrated brand. Comfy soft cord, you can cross the back straps so no fiddly back clips. Used from when they have some head control.

Letchworth is nowhere near me. Haverhill is in the complete opposite direction although not wholly undoable just not convenient. I think there are some sling meetups in cambridge... But I'm not sure if that's my thing. I just want to try some on, not go through a huge social thing.

So i might just have to go to Mothercare at some point... And did someone mention John Lewis? At least get a feel.

Interesting and disappointing to hear that the ergo and tula are not good for narrow shoulders, which is what I do have. Being narrow is the bane of my life i can tell you.

Thanks all for your advice and thoughts. You've been really helpful and given me plenty to think on.

I might leave it until after i have the baby... Might be best.

I went to our very popular local sling library and they were helpful but I never much got on with carrying when my daughter was tiny. Despite being told she was in the right position in the sling, she used to get very agitated.. she just preferred being down so we used the pram. She is two now and finally coming round to cuddles

That said, we got an Ergo360 and she did enjoy the outwards facing position as she got older. I didn’t get on with it though, it gave me awful backache.. which is strange as it’s universally quite popular & well reviewed! But the sling library lady did say that different ones suit different people, so maybe it just didn’t my body shape?

If you can find a library and borrow one, it’s worthwhile.. but if not, see if you can pop to a shop, mothercare, mamas & papas, John Lewis & try putting some on! I’d probably be wait until your bambino is here, just to see if you think it’d be handy or not!

Tula!!! I had a stretchy when lo was very young but then moved onto a tula. Tried the ergo first and found it too bulky. Wish id now bought the tula to start with and the infert insert. Lo is 16 months and we still back carry with him comfortably

Definitely leave it til baby is here. The rest of go to a sling meet as there's bound to be a library there you can try from.

I love our beco gemini, it fits me and dh really well. I can still back carry 2.5yo in it but his head falls about when napping!

The Caboo ones are great and really versatile. I suffer with spondylolithesis (back problem) and I found it ok to use.

Some babywearing consultants do home visits. You can avoid the social bit and try lots of things 1-1 that way. Prices will vary depending on the consultant and what they offer but it can work out cheaper than spending £160 on a ergo or tula and finding you hate it but love a much cheaper izmi or something like that

There’s also a very active second-hand market in carriers. The Facebook group Affordable Baby Slings for Sale or Swap is a good place to start.

I've got the ergobaby 360 and didn't get on with it to begin with but now that baby is big enough (6 months+), I love it. I put the waist belt on first, put the baby in and then put the straps (with the middle one already closed) over our heads and then fasten/tighten the side straps- it's actually a doddle. I'd highly recommend going to a baby show near where you are- there are live demonstrations and you get to wear the carrier with a life-sized doll. Plus the carriers (and all other goods) are sold at a discounted rate. Don't worry about being 'just 20 weeks'- I had all my shopping done by then- at a baby show! Oh and for the first 6 months, I couldn't live without our Hana fabric sling.

@fonxey - I have really narrow shoulders (size 6) and struggled with carriers. The best I found was the Stokke mycarrier and the Integrababy. The Stokke has a back panel so the straps don't slide off although I do struggle to get it tight enough if I've only got a t shirt on. The straps on the Integra cross at the back so don't slide off and is fine with only thin clothes. Both are really easy to put on by yourself. I didn't get the Integra until DD was about 8 months so not sure how it would be on a newborn.

I solely did babywearing with DC2&3 so no pram at all. Used the Ellaroo woven wrap when they were tiny and the ergo carrier as they got older. I now have the Ergo 360 with DC4 and it’s fantastic, the design is lots better than the older model and I like the fact it’s safe to face them outwards now too.

Echoing @voxnihili’s recommendation for the Integra. It is the only buckled carrier I’d choose to use with a newborn as it’s so versatile. There are lots on the second-hand market under the old brand name of Connecta.

Manduca is another one to consider. Has newborn bit included but goes up to toddler. Very supportive waist band but less ideal for putting in a bag in case toddler gets tired as a result as the padding makes the waist bulky. Very adjustable.

I really like the ability to cross the back straps over rather than reverse rucksack style as it avoids rubbing under the arms (and the clip contortions...)

With back issues I would tend to go for a sling that takes weight at the waist rather than shoulders. Baby bjorns got uncomfortable well before their stated weight limit...